THE MASK OF A PATRIARCH: Shamar Elkins and the “Sunday Morning” Erasure

SHREVEPORT, LA — In the digital age, a Facebook profile can be the perfect camouflage. For Shamar Elkins, his timeline was a sanctuary of “blessed” family photos and Easter celebrations. But as the sun rose over Louisiana this past Sunday, the digital mask shattered, revealing a tactical execution that has left eight young souls silent and a community in a state of permanent shock.

The Tactical Hunt: Three Locations, One Objective

New details from the 24-hour investigation reveal that this was not a spontaneous “snap.” Elkins, a 31-year-old with a background as a Fire Support Specialist in the National Guard, utilized his military precision for a horrific city-wide mission.

The trail began at 5:55 AM on Harrison Street, where he targeted the first mother before moving to the residence on West 79th Street. Investigators confirm that Elkins moved with “eerie calm,” navigating between three different locations to find every individual on his “list.”

The Rooftop Discovery: A Final Act of Desperation

Perhaps the most haunting image from the crime scene is one that will stay with the first responders forever. While most victims were found in their beds, one young soul was discovered on the rooftop.

It appears the child attempted to climb to safety, seeking refuge on the shingles as the shadow of their father moved through the house. While one 13-year-old brother survived by making a harrowing “leap of faith” from that same roof, his sibling was not as fortunate. This detail has transformed the case from a domestic tragedy into a chilling story of a targeted hunt.

The “Dark Thoughts” Before the Storm

Family members have now broken their silence, revealing a chilling phone call made by Elkins just days before the incident. “There are some people who never return from their own demons,” Elkins reportedly told his stepfather.

Despite the Easter photos showing him smiling with his seven biological children, Elkins was reportedly spiraling over a Monday court date regarding a final separation. Investigators believe he chose to “erase the future” rather than lose control over his past.

The Mystery of the Eighth Angel

A major twist in the case remains the identity of the eighth victim. While seven were Elkins’ own children, the eighth was a cousin caught in the crossfire. This inclusion suggests that Elkins’ objective was the total removal of the family unit, regardless of blood relation.

A City Left in the Shadows

As two mothers remain in critical condition after sustaining direct injuries, the city of Shreveport has become a sea of candles and stuffed animals. The 13-year-old survivor is currently the only living witness to the 4:00 AM horror, his testimony set to become the centerpiece of the most painful investigation in Louisiana history.

The question remains: How did a man with a 2019 “warning sign” and a history of “dark thoughts” maintain access to the tools used to dismantle a legacy?

Shamar Elkins update: Who was his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh? Shreveport mass shooting victims identified

Shamar Elkins shot his wife Shaneiqua Pugh, then eight children in Shreveport before a court date on their divorce on April 20, Monday, police said.

In a major update on the tragic mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Sunday, authorities on Monday identified one of the victims as the wife of the suspect, Shamar Elkins. Elkins shot his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh, his eight children, seven of whom were his own, the mother of his other three children, and one more individual before being shot dead by deputies after a police chase.

Shamar Elkins was shot dead by police deputies after he shot dead eight people. (Shamar Elkins on Facebook and Reuters via third party)

The eight children killed by Elkins were identified by the Caddo Parish coroner’s office as Jayla Elkins, 3, Shayla Elkins, 5, Kayla Pugh, 6, Layla Pugh, 6, Markaydon Pugh, 10, Sariahh Snow, 11, Khedarrion Snow, 6, and Braylon Snow, 5.

Shaneiqua Pugh and the mother of Elkins’ other three children are still critical and undergoing treatment after Sunday’s shooting.

Who Is Shaneiqua Pugh?

Shaneiqua Pugh, 34, was one of the two women shot at the two Shreveport residences by Shamar Elkins on Sunday. He was the wife of Shamar Elkins and had four children with her, all of whom were fatally shot. The other woman was the mother of three child with Elkins. CNN reports citing public records that Elkins and Pugh got married around two years ago.

Christopher Bordelon, a Shreveport Police spokesperson, said that Shaneiqua Pugh was shot by Elkins first, followed by the eight children. He added that Shaneiqua Pugh and Shamar Elkins were involved in a domestic dispute over their separation, which was slated to go to court on Monday, April 20 in Louisiana.

Pugh has very “very serious injuries” from the shooting, Bordelon said, while the other woman has “life-threatening,” KSLA reported.

Shaneiqua Pugh called 911 when Elkins barged into the home on Sunday morning and shot everyone inside. She made a second 911 call as she and one of her children tried to escape through the roof and into the back yard of the house, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said Monday.

One minute later, the caller advised that she and her children had fled from the roof and were now in the backyard; 6:01 a.m. officers arrived on the scene,” he added.

Family Shares Details Of Bumpy Divorce Proceedings

Since the identification of Shamar Elkins as the suspect of the deadly mass shooting, the 31-year-old’s family has shared more details on his rocky marriage with Shaneiqua Pugh. Elkins mother and stepfather told the New York Times that he was drowning in “dark thoughts” over the divorce.

“I told him, ‘You can beat stuff, man. I don’t care what you’re going through, you can beat it,” Elkins’ stepfather, Marcus Jackson, said to NYT. “Then I remember him telling me: ‘Some people don’t come back from their demons.’”

He had also hinted at not taking the divorce in the right way in multiple Facebook posts.